LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck could be in some hot water after he left his “department-issued firearm” in an employee restroom last month.
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck could be in some hot water after he left his “department-issued firearm” in an employee restroom last month.
Raybuck, who was sworn in as chief nearly five years ago, issued a statement in which he took “full responsiblity” for his actions. The incident happened on March 4.
“As the police chief of the Kaua‘i Police Department, I take full responsibility for leaving my department-issued firearm in the police department employee restroom outside my office. The employee restroom is located in a secured area of the department that requires access via an employee key card,” said Raybuck on Friday, April 5.
“However, I recognize the serious nature of this incident. My firearm was located by another police department employee who took the appropriate steps to secure the firearm. While I have not been officially notified of a complaint, I will fully cooperate with the Police Commission’s process. I hope that my situation serves as an opportunity for others to learn from my mistake and a reminder of the importance of the safekeeping of firearms.”
The statement was issued a few days after the County of Kaua‘i agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit, in which Raybuck was accused of discriminating against a Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) captain for being Japanese American.
The settlement stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2021 by Paul Applegate, who is part Japanese. The settlement called for Applegate to receive approximately $45,000 in back wages, roughly $181,000 in general damages and about $124,000 in legal fees, the Associated Press reported.
Applegate, who is acting assistant chief of KPD’s Investigative Services Bureau, also agreed to retire from the department. Under the settlement there was no admission of fault or liability.
